Jun 16 2025

First reading 2 Corinthians 6:1-10

How we prove that we are God’s servants

As his fellow workers, we beg you once again not to neglect the grace of God that you have received. For he says: At the favourable time, I have listened to you; on the day of salvation I came to your help. Well, now is the favourable time; this is the day of salvation.

We do nothing that people might object to, so as not to bring discredit on our function as God’s servants. Instead, we prove we are servants of God by great fortitude in times of suffering: in times of hardship and distress; when we are flogged, or sent to prison, or mobbed; labouring, sleepless, starving. We prove we are God’s servants by our purity, knowledge, patience and kindness; by a spirit of holiness, by a love free from affectation; by the word of truth and by the power of God; by being armed with the weapons of righteousness in the right hand and in the left, prepared for honour or disgrace, for blame or praise; taken for impostors while we are genuine; obscure yet famous; said to be dying and here are we alive; rumoured to be executed before we are sentenced; thought most miserable and yet we are always rejoicing; taken for paupers though we make others rich, for people having nothing though we have everything.

Responsorial Psalm 97(98):1-4

The Lord has made known his salvation.
Sing a new song to the Lord
for he has worked wonders.
His right hand and his holy arm
have brought salvation.

The Lord has made known his salvation.
The Lord has made known his salvation;
has shown his justice to the nations.
He has remembered his truth and love
for the house of Israel.

The Lord has made known his salvation.
All the ends of the earth have seen
the salvation of our God.
Shout to the Lord, all the earth,
ring out your joy.

Gospel Matthew 5:38-42

Offer the wicked man no resistance

Jesus said to his disciples: ‘You have learnt how it was said: Eye for eye and tooth for tooth. But I say this to you: offer the wicked man no resistance. On the contrary, if anyone hits you on the right cheek, offer him the other as well; if a man takes you to law and would have your tunic, let him have your cloak as well. And if anyone orders you to go one mile, go two miles with him. Give to anyone who asks, and if anyone wants to borrow, do not turn away.’

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Overcoming evil with good

“You have heard how it was said: Eye for eye and tooth for tooth. But I say this to you: offer no resistance to the wicked…” (The Gospel). In today’s Gospel, Jesus speaks of not repaying evil with evil but responding to evil with goodness. These words might seem illogical and unreasonable to many of us. Our natural reaction when a wrong is done to us is to retaliate and seek revenge. Today, Jesus calls us to follow His attitude, which goes against all human reasoning and calls on us to make it our way too.

It is important to note that this Gospel passage does not negate the need for justice in cases of abuse, assault or any form of injustice. The main message is to reject the cycle of hatred and violence, and instead, to respond with love and forgiveness. On our own, we struggle to remain loving in the face of evil, to be kind amidst hostility, to stay faithful when confronted with unfaithfulness, to be peacemakers in the presence of hatred. We need the help of the Holy Spirit to work in us and to love through us.

Reflective question:
What strikes me in my prayer today?

Acknowledgment: Reflections are based on “Prayer for Living: The Word of God for Daily Prayer Year C” by Sr Maria Jose FMVD.